Tips For Buying Clippers For Your Horse

Go for both.

Things to Think About When Shopping for Horse Clippers and Trimmers

• Think about how your horse reacts to certain things and your facilities at the barn that can make clipping easy or difficult. Then factor in your horse’s needs, their hair coat, and the type of clipping that suits their coat and the weather.

How does your horse feel about snakes? I mean cords?

• Hoses and cords can elicit a strong fear response in horses, making the whole clipping process horrible for everyone. Some horses may not mind cords around them, but they certainly do not like them touching them. Cordless is the way to go in cases like this. There are many options for cordless heavy-duty clippers or a dainty pair of trimmers, too.

• If your horse doesn’t bat an eye at cords, you can opt for a set of clippers with a cord. These may offer more power, and you’ll never be stuck with dead batteries.

• Also, if you tend to trip on things, skip the cord.

Is there an outlet near the crossties?

• Some farms don’t have convenient power outlets.

• Full body clipping, or even trace clipping, takes time and is best done where your horse is comfortable, and there may not be an outlet available. Cordless may be a better option in these situations.

How forgetful are you?

• Letting the charge run out won’t do you any good if you have a wound to clean and there’s no battery juice. For emergencies, consider buying a corded clipper for your horse.

Look for features that can benefit your horse – like low vibration. Also, look for features that help you, like being lightweight.

Buying Clippers for Your Horse – Other Factors to Consider

Your horse’s winter coat

• Your horse’s coat type often dictates your choice of clip – a full body clip, trace clip, or just a quick tidy of stray hair. Trimmers won’t cut it on a thick winter coat for body clipping, and shears are too much for a bridle path or tidy on your horse’s legs.

Battery life

• If you routinely clip a few horses a day, the battery life may leave you with a horse that’s half show ring ready and half yak. Go corded. Some cordless clippers come with two removable batteries and a charging stand. You can charge one as you are clipping. Other rechargeable batteries are inside the body, and can charge as you clip.

Power

• Corded clippers are typically stronger, and for the really thick-haired beasts out there, you need all the power you can get. Go corded. You can gauge the power by the speed of the clippers, usually measured in RPMs. A higher RPM, like upwards of 3,500 to 4,500, gives you lots of oomph.

• However, newer cordless styles pack the same power as their corded counterparts.

Speeds

• Many clippers have multiple speeds. Trimmers often have a single speed. The faster the motor, the easier it is to cut through thicker hair.

Size

• For body clipping, you may find that cordless models are bigger to handle, and keeping the power source inside adds weight. Go corded if this bugs you. But smaller clippers for small areas are available, so you may want to go cordless for specialty clippers. For technical areas like fetlocks, faces, and legs, the size of your clipper may dictate your choice, as the larger styles are often tricky to maneuver around those areas.

Lots of color options, too!

What’s the Best Clipper for Your Horse’s Coat?

• For thick coats, heavy-coated breeds like the Fjords, and any horse that has extra hair because of Cushing’s disease, you want the power of shears. These heavy-duty clippers make light work of dense hair coats. 

• For most horses, a body clipper will do fine for all full-body clips and any trimming that you may need. You can also use body clippers to tidy up wounds, ears, and the lower legs.

• Opt for lightweight trimmers if you never plan on body clipping, although some horses would take that as a challenge to prove us wrong! Trimmers are great for ears, wounds, lower legs, making designs, and clipping around tight areas like elbows and the mane. 

Horse Clipper Features to Consider

• Thanks to today’s tech, new horse clippers are more powerful, last longer, and cost less, so you get great value for your money.

Batteries

• For both internal and external batteries of cordless models, the shift to lithium-ion batteries means they charge faster and last longer. They also deliver the same power until they are out of juice. These batteries are also lighter than other types.

• If the cordless model has a permanent internal battery, it can usually run and charge simultaneously.

• If the battery is removable, use one battery to clip in and let the other charge on the charging stand. Many batteries have a 2-3 hour run time when fully charged.

• Fancy LED indicators on some batteries also alert you to remaining power as a reminder to charge them.

Speed and power

• Multiple speed settings give you options. Lower, slower speeds are ideal for delicate areas and produce less noise and vibration, which many horses prefer. Faster speeds are ideal for large body areas, thicker coats, and tackling mats.

• Some clipper bodies are two-speed, and others are three-speed for maximum options. Trimmers usually have a single speed, as they are designed for touch-ups only.

• Horse clippers also have an RPM range, with some models reaching 4,500 RPM. The higher the RPM, the more powerful the clipper.

The shears could eat that other blade!  Shears make quick work of thick hair coats. 

Speed control

• But what if the coat is wacky, uneven, matted, or otherwise a roller coaster? Look for Constant Speed Control. This horse clipper feature automatically adjusts the motor to maintain power through matted hair and dense coats, making it easier to use.

Ergonomic designs and weight

• New horse clippers feature ergonomic, slip-resistant bodies that reduce fatigue and help prevent drops. Their balanced weight, concentrated near the blades, makes them more comfortable to use and easier to control.

Advanced blades

• Blade technology has improved a lot, offering easier cleaning and designs that stay cooler during use. Many blades now feature additional ridges on the comb area to improve performance and comfort.  

• Quieter operation and reduced vibration are great benefits, especially for sensitive horses.  

• You also have choices in how much hair to remove. A #10 wide blade works well for fast clipping, while a #7F leaves a bit more coat on your horse.  

Advanced hinge systems

• For clippers with detachable blades, a system that stops the hinge from closing when no blade is attached is a real time-saver. Accidentally snapping the hinge closed can be annoying and tricky to fix.

• Features like LOCKGUARD™ technology keep the hinge open and ready for a blade, preventing those accidental closures altogether.

Let your equine partner’s coat and clipping needs guide you when buying clippers for your horse.

Read the Complete Guide to Horse Clipping

Read Horse Clipping for Beginners